Cash-for-clunkers schemes succeeded only in limiting the drop in new car sales in Europe last year, with new registrations down 1.6% compared to 2008, the European carmakers body said today.
Nevertheless, such incentives along with fleet renewal plans in a number of the biggest car markets, meant the figures showed significant improvement over 2008, when new car sales plunged 7.8%, the worst drop since 1993.
In total, 14.48 million new cars were registered last year in the 28 nations covered by the data - 25 European Union members, not counting Cyprus and Malta, plus free-trade partners Iceland, Norway and Switzerland.
The ACEA car-makers association noted that 'European new car registrations picked up in the second half of last year, largely due to the impact of fleet renewal schemes in a number of major markets.'
In December 2009, demand for new cars rose by 16%, or 1,074,438 units compared to the same month the previous year.
Over the 12 months, only Austria (up 8.8%), France (up 10.7%) and Germany (23.2%) posted growth in western Europe compared to 2008. By comparison, Italy dropped 0.2%, Britain 6.4% and Spain 17.9% over the year.
Irish new car sales slumped last year by almost 63% compared with 2008. The figure is the lowest since 1987.
Among car makers, Germany's Volkswagen - with its VW, Audi, Seat and Skoda brands - remained in pole position, with its share of the market rising to 21.1% from 20.7% in 2008. It sold 3.06 million vehicles in 2009. Peugeot Citroen's sales remained stable at 1.34 million units.
